On randomization testing in vegetation science: multifactor comparisons of relevé groups

Abstract. Hypothesis testing in phytocoenological applications is likely to be hindered when based on conventional statistical methods. The problem created by unrealistic assumptions can, however, be overcome by randomization. This paper discusses the general idea of randomization testing, describes a method and interprets its application in group comparisons. Two sets of variables are involved, the vegetation set on the basis of which the groups are compared and the environmental factors which delimit the groups under different analytical designs. Although simple partitioning of sum of squares is at the core of the test, the method has versatility of testing uni- or multifactor designs, which is novel in phytocoenological applications. The algorithm has been implemented in programs SYNCSA and MULTIV by V.P. Data from the Campos of southern Brazil are used for illustration.     

The role of ecomorphological studies in the comparative biology of fishes

Synopsis The goal of an ecomorphological study is to understand the interactions between the morphology of organisms and their ecology. Both the morphology and the ecology presented by an organism are directly or indirectly under the influence of the environmental conditions that the organism experiences and its heritable composition. The development and interpretation of the central element of ecomorphological studies, the comparison between patterns of variation of morphological and ecological characters, depends heavily on the mechanistic framework provided by functional morphological and biomechanical studies. The cause-and-effect hypotheses derived from this comparison can be tested with performance trials. Ecomorphology forms an integral part of comparative biology, along with ecophysiology, behavioral ecology, and evolutionary ecology. Current issues in ecomorphological research that are addressed in this volume include application of a more functional approach to the choice of characters, integration of morphological, behavioral, and physiological information to address adaptation, and the expansion of spatial and temporal (ontogenetic and evolutionary) scales of ecomorphological questions. Future directions for Ecomorphology include broadening the knowledge base, further integration of information from other disciplines, examination of the role of environmental and genetic factors in producing and maintaining ecological and morphological diversity, and application of ecomorphological insights to questions of community structure.     

Bioassay testing for Australia as part of water quality assessment programmes

Abstract Bioassay testing includes both toxicity (one or more effects is measured) and bioaccumulation (the phenomenon of tissue accumulation is measured) tests. Both types of bioassay tests have an important place in water quality assessment programmes, ideally beginning with initial screening and as part of tiered testing that includes contaminant analyses and field studies. Both have advantages (e. g. measure bioavailability, provide quantitative data, experimental manipulations can address cause-effect relationships) and disadvantages (e. g. laboratory exposures do not necessarily reflect field conditions, not all organisms can be tested). Both provide essential, but not all, information necessary for holistic water quality assessments. This paper provides a review of the use of bioassays including definitions, applications, advantages and disadvantages, utility and relevance. The utility of bioassays in monitoring programmes is illustrated by two case studies. The first case study, involving novel toxicity studies conducted in the high Arctic, illustrates the versatility of bioassays such that testing conducted in a tent on the ice resulted in new knowledge and a change in industrial discharge limits. The second case study further illustrates the importance of bioassays in decision making. In this case, a decision not to immediately spend hundreds of millions of dollars for sewage treatment, but rather to concentrate on source control, was made based in large part on bioassay testing conducted as part of an integrated environmental assessment.     

Simplifying the estimation of diagnostic testing accuracy over time for high specificity tests in the absence of a gold standard

Many different methods for evaluating diagnostic test results in the absence of a gold standard have been proposed. In this paper, we discuss how one common method, a maximum likelihood estimate for a latent class model found via the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm can be applied to longitudinal data where test sensitivity changes over time. We also propose two simplified and nonparametric methods which use data-based indicator variables for disease status and compare their accuracy to the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) results. We find that with high specificity tests, the performance of simpler approximations may be just as high as the MLE.     

Cladistic and phenetic studies of genera of Afrotropical Cryptobiina (Coleoptera Staphylinidae Paederinae) I. Cladistic approach

The monophyly of Staphylinidae, Paederinae and Cryptobiina is discussed. Using a cladistic analysis based on 40 exoskeletal characters, a hypothesis on the phylogeny of genera of Afro-tropical Cryptobiina is proposed. The cladogram clearly shows that these beetles have evolved alone three main pathways. Pathway 1 relates to a single genus, Matropium, the representatives of which exhibit many characters in plesiomorphic state and inhabit soil organic horizons of the Afroalpine zone in Zaïre. With regard to pathways 2 and 3, the observation of certain morphological traits (e. g. the shape of metanotum, the design of mesocoxal cavities) leads to the assumption that genera have developed distinct predation strategies and/or locomotion modalities: on the one hand, three strictly forest dwelling genera (Cryptofagiella, Pachyryptum and Nitidicryptum) have specialized towards a modality of running down or stalking prey in the rain forest; on the other hand, the eight remaining genera would have gained the ability either to hunt by flight or to move quickly in connection with an increase of flight performances, head mobility and visual acuity. This latter evolutionary pattern appears to be particularly evident in highly evolved genera like Monocrypta, Afrophitodum and Opbitodum.     

Use of cation/anion exchange membranes for multi-element testing of acidic soils

We have developed a technique using cation/anion exchange resins which allows the simultaneous extraction from soil of Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Al and P. Ions are extracted by shaking soil with resin in distilled water. The resin is separated from the soil and ions are desorbed from the resin using an acid/salt solution. Concentrations of ions in solution are then determined by conventional means. Concentrations of ions extracted by the resin method were compared with concentrations determined by commonly-used analytical procedures. Except for Al, concentrations of ions extracted by the resin procedures correlated well with conventional extraction and analytical procedures. The resin membrane method offers considerable speed and cost advantages over conventional methods.     

The nutrition of grazed pastures in New Zealand

Models of nutrient cycles (PKS) in grazed pastures are used to estimate fertiliser requirements for New Zealand farmers. Work relevant to the development of these models is reviewed. Fertiliser recommendations should be based on the long-term economic maintenance rate. Short-term modifications based on current soil nutrient status (PS) estimated by either soil tests or dynamic cycling models are probably not justified unless current fertiliser use differs greatly from the estimated maintenance rate. The effect of maintenance recommendations should be monitored, and if necessary modified, by soil testing and plant analysis.     

Phytoplankton succession and diversity in a warm monomictic,relatively shallow lake: Lake Volvi,Macedonia, Greece

In Lake Volvi, phytoplankton dominance was examined in relation to the main phases of the fluctuating physical state of the water column and nutrient levels. Four stages of algal succession were identified. The successional pattern was, in general, similar from year to year. External disturbances such as increased wind mixing and high floods had the effect of setting the succession back to an earlier stage.Nanoplanktic diatoms and flagellates dominated during the first stages of succession. The succession was running from r-selected species in early stages to K-strategists in summer and towards a mixed community in the terminal stage.Diversity was expressed by the indices of Gleason and Shannon (based on physical units and biomass). Interpretation of species diversity took into account the differential variations of its two components, the number of species and the evenness of their distribution. Diversity was more affected by evenness than by number of species.Diversity increased in late stages of succession corresponding to the complexity of the community (high number of species, high evenness). Physical disturbances influenced positively the diversity. The maximal diversity appeared in the transition periods between the compositional changes generated by disturbances and the true successional development. Disturbances may generate a more uniform distribution of diversity throughout the whole water column.The role of physical disturbances in increasing the phytoplankton diversity may be demonstrated from comparisons of diversity — evenness — species number of the same stages under different meteorological conditions.